Today my friend Sean Holton passed away. He was diagnosed with brain cancer 2 years ago and chronicled his battle in his blog Same Time Tomorrow with the same wit, humor and grace that he brought to the rest of his life. I urge you to read his blog. His incredible writing will touch you. His humor will make you laugh at a topic that you might think is impossible to be funny about.

I have known Sean since I was a little girl. He worked with my Mother for many years and was not only a family friend but he became part of our family. As an only child he's the closest thing I had to an uncle. I admired him, looked up to him and like a little sister giddy to be spending time with her big brother -- I was always thrilled when I got to spend time with him.

A few weeks before his death I wrote Sean a letter. Just a little trip down memory lane. While I am not the amazing writer that Sean was, this is from the heart. I am re-posting it here.

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Dear Sean

I remember first meeting you when I was at mom's office in Kansas City.
Magnum PI was one of my favorite shows and you looked exactly like Tom
Selleck with your mustache! My 8 year old self was completely star
struck at your likeness to Magnum -- I expected you to start running
down a beach with two dobermans at any moment, music soaring in the
background.

I remember lots of Kansas City Star parties and
Burning Down the House playing on the stereo, everyone was dancing in
the living room. I can not hear that song and not think of you.

Remember "Gossip Queen Abdicates"? What I would call the most witty,
hilarious and touching story you wrote for my mom describing our Buick
as pink (it was sand colored, ahem). When that car became mine, every
time I drove it thought of you calling it a pink Buick and it would
always make me giggle.

When I moved to DC, you helped me find an apartment and took me door to
door until we found a place. Frantic phone calls were made to landlords,
you even ran to help me get copies of the lease, all of this while the
Oklahoma City Bombing was a breaking story, and you needed to be at the
office. Thank you.

I looked so much forward to our "Melrose
Monday's" at Craig and David's. I always cherished spending time with you guys and it was my highlight of every week. Remember
how Craig would leave the vacuum out because he had spent so much on it
he thought it should have a prominent place in the living room? I
remember watching Babe the Pig while you declared it BBQ night. Going to
see Sense and Sensibility at the Uptown theater in Cleveland Park. I
can't pass by The Dupont Italian Kitchen without thinking of you.

Thank you for giving a reading at our wedding. Thank you for your
writing, your humor, your wit your awesomeness. You are the brother and uncle I never had, all wrapped into one.
I love you Sean.

Thank you for letting us know. Thought not unexpected, his passing is heartbreaking for all who knew him - that I am sure. He fought the good fight with courage and bravery. I am glad I was able to follow his journey. Love to all.

Claudine, I am so sorry your the loss of your friend, Sean. Death is never easy but this time of year, it seems even more unfair. I hope that his family is at peace with his passing after his struggle with brain cancer. Thank you for sharing your friend with us. Rest In Peace, Sean. <3 Candy